Folding commode stand and seat.



FOLDING GDMMODE STAND AND SEAT.

J. H. PRENTICE.

(Application filed July 6, 1901.

No Model.)

Patented Mar. 4, I902.

WITNESSES 7H: mums-1 mm co. Pnomurwa wasumswm D c.

m VENTOR L: l mealfimzi proved commode-seat.

UNITE rn'rns JAMES H. PRENTICE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FOLDING COMMODE STAND AND SEAT.

dPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,890, dated March 4, 1902.

Q Application filed July 6, 1901. fierial No. 67,285. (No irodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, J AMES H. PRENTICE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Folding Gommode Stand and Seat, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a portable commode-seat especially designed for the use of children, and which may be conveniently carried from place to place in the form of a small parcel or which may be packed in a trunk or a medium-sized traveling-bag.

Another purpose of the invention is to so construct the article that it will consist of but three parts, a seat having a hole the margin whereof is beveled at both faces of the seat, so that both faces maybe used, and two folding supports which in one position of the seat are utilized as upright side members.

Another purpose of the invention is to so attach the combined supports and side members to the seat that they may be folded outward at an angle thereto and remain firmly in such position, holding the-seat horizontal or-folded in a flat interlocking manner against the face of the seat for transportation.

Another purpose of the invention is to so construct the article that it may be quickly and readily set up for use upon any surface or may be placed upon the seat of any watercloset to reduce the size of the opening therein.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

and pointed out in theclairns.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the im- Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the improved seat folded and drawn on a larger scale; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, showing the improved commodeseat upon a closet-seat and the supports in upright position, the view being on a scale corresponding to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The seat A may be of any suitable shape and of any desired size; but it is preferably of rectangular formation, as shown in Fig. 3, and is of such site that it may be readily carried in the hand .or placed in a trunk or valise. The seat is provided with the usual central opening 10; but this opening differs from others in that the lower portion 12 of its wall is beveled as well as its upper portion 11, so that the seat may be used with either face up.. Supports 13 are located at what may be termedthe end portions of the seat. the seat by hinges 1a of any desired character and number, and the hinges areseeured to the inner faces of the supports, so that the supports will fold down close upon what These supports 13 are connected with is normally the under face of the seat A.

Each support 13 is provided with a series of recesses 15 alternately with, tongues 16, the tongues and recesses being at the free edges of the supports. Each support is provided with a recess 15 at one of its vertical edges and a tongue 16 at the opposite vertical edge, but the tongues and recesses on the two supports are reversely placed-that is to say, the end tongue on one support is at the left-hand side of the support, while at the corresponding side of the opposing support a recess 15 is formed. This arrangement is made in order that when the supports are folded down close upon the seat A the tongue 16 of one support will enter and fit neatly into the recesses 15 on the opposing support, as is illustrated in Fig. 3. Under this construction when the supports are folded on the seat both faces of the deviceare practically fiat and smooth. The upper or inner corners 16 of the recesses are curved, as are likewise the lower corners 17 of the tongues, with the exception of the outer lower corner 18 of the outermost tongue, as is illustrated in Fig. 2, so that the outermost tongues 16 of the support will afford a maximum of bearing upon the ground or other surface on which the device may be placed. The edges of the supports 13, adjacent-to the hinges 14, are beveled, as shown at 19 in Figs. 1 and 3, the bevel being downward and outward, so that when the supports are carried down at an angle from the seat they will incline outwardly, as shown in Fig. Land their beveled upper edges 19, coming in engagement with the under face of the seat A, Will prevent the said supports from spreading farther than is desired.

Itis evident that adevice of this kind may be quickly placed in position for use and used upon any surface, affording a commodeseat for a child at an instants notice. Vhen not in use, the device is rendered exceedingly compact and may be made very light, yet durable.

Thedevice may be used in connection with the ordinary seat B ofa water-closet, as shown in' Fig. 4, to reduce the area of the openingin the regular seat,and when so used what is normally the upper face of the seat A is placed upon the upper face of the seat B of the closet, as shown in Fig. 4c, the opening 10 in the added seat A being over the opening 20 in the regular seat B. The supports 13 will then stand with an upward and outward inclination, as is also shown in Fig. 4, and will serve as a side guard for the child when seated on the commode-seat A.

The corners of the tongues 16 and the corners of the recesses 15 are rounded off in order that the recesses and tongues in a support may be produced by an uninterrupted cut of a band-saw or like instrument.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent I An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a seat provided with an opening, and a pair of leaves hinged to said seat, said leaves being provided with oppositely-disposed sinuous edges consisting of alternate tongues and recesses, the tongues of one edge being of substantially the same size and shape as the recesses of the opposite edge and adapted to fit the same accurately, so as to form, when folded, a substantially continuous surface.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. PRENTICE.

Witnesses:

ALBERT L. MILLER, W. GUINAUD. 

